Abstract: A flexure-based transducer especially adapted for very precise measurement of small forces in either direction along or parallel to a single axis, without being adversely affected by forces applied in any other direction or by moments applied about any axis. The transducer is capable of withstanding very high overloading, without damage, by the provision of two resilient portions mounted in parallel to each other but in series between the gaged portion and a fixed support, plus an overload pin on the gaged portion which bottoms after a pre-determined travel.

Abstract: A device for measuring the magnitude and direction of unbalanced moments about each of two mutually perpendicular axes resulting from the displacement of the center of gravity of an object being measured, such as a tire, from the third mutually perpendicular axis. The moment sensing portion consists of two pairs of strain gage-equipped beams, one pair coincident with each of the two axes, with the intersection of the three axes corresponding with the design center of gravity of the object being measured. The sensing head is mounted on a spherical air bearing whose center of curvature corresponds with the intersection point of the three axes, so that unbalanced moments tend to cause pivotal movement about the associated axis, as permitted by yieldable flexing of the beams, while the weight of the object being measured is exerted parallel to the third axis and against the air bearing, so that such force is bypassed around the moment sensing portion to avoid damaging or influencing the sensing structure.